Liturgy for May 14, 2023
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Reflections
The Bible is not a self-help book. The Scriptures present one, consistent, organic message. They tell us how we must seek Christ, who alone is our Savior and source of strength to be and to do what God requires.
Bryan Chapell
from Christ-Centered Preaching
The only real life of the Christian is his resurrection life in and with Christ.
Henry Alford
We need not wonder that so much importance is attached to our Lord’s resurrection. It is the seal and headstone of the great work of redemption, which He came to do. It is the crowning proof that He has paid the debt which He undertook to pay on our behalf, won the battle which He fought to deliver us from hell, and is accepted as our Surety and our Substitute by our Father in heaven.
J.C. Ryle
God is not an actor within the larger scheme of things. He is not a muscle-bound Jupiter, bullying the littler ones. He is the Author of the whole thing. We never ask how much of Hamlet's role was contributed by Hamlet, and how much by Shakespeare. That is not a question that can be answered with 70/30 or 50/50 or 90/10. The right answer is 100/100. Hamlet's actions are all Hamlet's and they are all Shakespeare's.
Douglas Wilson
To be in Christ, then, is to possess what is often spoken of as full salvation: every thing necessary to our past, present, future and eternal welfare has been stored up in Christ for us to share and enjoy. But it is not only benefits and blessings that are in Christ; we are in him ourselves. Full salvation belongs to us as a matter of objective fact, but it is through union with our living Savior that we experience its warmth and personal reality.
Alec Motyer
from The Message of Philippians
Joy is an effect of being before the face of God.
Peter Leithart
Call to Worship
adapted from Psalm 84
Leader: How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
All: For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Leader: For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
All: O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
Hymn of Praise: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Prayer of Praise and the Lord’s Prayer
Confession of Sin
Scripture Reading
Psalm 139:1-12
O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
Corporate Confession of Sin
Leader: Let us confess our sins together.
All: O Lord, we confess that nothing is hidden from you. In you, all things are known. We look at our hearts, our hearts of darkness, and we dread the light of your presence. You are too high, too wonderful, and too holy for us to contemplate. We confess our total inadequacy to stand before you in and off ourselves. We confess our inability to even desire repentance without being awakened by the power of your Holy Spirit.
But through your grace we come before you this day in repentance only through the power of your Spirit and only because of the glorious work of your Son. He alone has given us the assurance that we can stand before you. Create in us a heart that seeks repentance, that seeks you alone. Grant us your grace and your peace and make us strong o walk in your ways. Amen.
Silent Confession and Reflection
Words of Assurance and the Peace of God
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Leader: Through Christ alone we have peace with God. May his peace be with you.
All: And also with you.
Hymn of Response and Collection of Tithes and Offerings
Hymn: Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me
Blessing of Tithes and Offerings
Doxology
Affirmation of Faith of the Gospel
from 1 Corinthians 15:3‐7; Romans 1:16‐17
Leader: What is the Gospel we preach, that which we have received, in which we stand, and by which we are saved?
People: Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
Leader: Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
All: We are not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
All: Amen
Hymn: Gloria Patri
Prayer of Intercession
Hymn: Be Thou My Vision
Preaching of the Word
Paul and Barnabas, A Manifestation of Christ
by Peter Leithart
Scripture: Acts 13
Closing Hymn: Christ Our Hope in Life and Death
Benediction
Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
And God’s people said:
People: Amen.